Adjustable shelf unit



Aug. 1' 7, 1943.

M. KEES'HEN ADJUSTABLE SHELF'UNIT 4 Filed July 26, 1941 ahen INF]

Patented Aug. 17, 1943 UNITED STATES FATENT FIG-3E r V 2,326,864 AnJUsTAnLn SHELF'UEIT I Miimetta KeeshengDenvernColo. I V Application July 26, 194l,' SerialNo. ie4,l29 g 1 Claim. ((31.211-419} This invention relates to shelf unit assemblies cfa type wherein the elements are adapted for adjustment and variation in arrangement to meet specific requirements, and has as an object to provide an improved construction and" arrangement of elements constitutingsucha unit. A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement or" elements constituting a shelf unit assembly adapted for use in either table or wall-bracket form. i a r 7 A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement of elements constituting an ad ustable shelf unit assembly susceptible of development in single or compound form to-provide shelf space of varying capacity. a

A further object of the invention is to provide an. improved adjustable shelf .unit susceptible. of convenient assembly anddisassembly and hence adapted for convenientstorage, transportation, and variation to meet the requirement of specific use. i l

A further object of the invention is'to provide W a unit of the character described whichis simple and inexpensive of manufacture, susceptible of development in a wide variety of specificforms, sizes, and materials, which is sturdy and durable in use, and which provides a maximum extent'of;

available shelf area in proportion tothe wall or floor space occupied by the unit.

straight margin intersection toward the junction My invention consists in the, construction, 1

arrangement, and combination of elements here inafter set forth, pointed out in my claim, and;

illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment and arrangement of my improved unit as assembled in compound form for use as either a table or wall bracket. Figure 2 is a cross section taken on the. indicated line 22 of Figure 1.

Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are front elevations of latter-in spaced, superposed relation in a single or compound, integrated, self-sustaining unit.

In the construction as shown, the shelf mem-.

bers are indicated by the numeralddandare shownas each consisting of a sectorzor quadrant bounded on two sides bystraight-marginsinter- *secting at substantially rightj angles "and on the third side'by an farcuate margin-intersectingthe straight; margins in smoothly-curved corners.

The-shelf members-l 0 may be formed of any suitablematerialinany suitableor'desired manner to provide rigid elements having smooth, ,plane upper' surfaces adapted to function in the .support of material and elements placed thereon, and such'shelfmembers may conveniently and desirably be of wood or'equivalent'fmaterial, al-

though a construction of such; elements from metal is within the contemplation of th inven tiornwEach of the straight margins of each shelf member H! is formed with an outwardly-opening,

angular notch or 1 recess H "extendin'g'entirely through the vertical depth of the member'lo and inwardly from the margin of said member a distance equal to the-thickness of the riser to be associated therewith, and said-notches l I are-located in each margin'of a member Ill alike distance from the point 7 of intersection. of the notched straight margins, 'such -distance-being somewhat more than one-half of the length of the straight margin measuredfrom the point of of astraight margin with the curved outer margin;

Identical; notched, shelf members Hare pro- 'vided in suchnumber as may be'des'ired'to form a particular shelf unit, and are assembled to form the desired unit through engagement and connection with identical risers l2, each of which consists of a straight, slat-like element having a cross section of a size to fit closely within and fill the notch l l of a shelf member and. a length suitable for development of the completed unit desired. The risers I2 are preferably rounded at each end and are provided with a plurality of spaced'holes 13 disposed along the longitudinal median line of each riser and extending entirely' through the riser thickness.

Since the holes I3 are similarly positioned and spaced along each of the risers 12, it is conven- V V ient to arrange a number of shelf members In in parallel, spaced relation and in'engagement ship desired by means of screws 14, or like fastening elements, engaging through similarly-located rszasti holes [3 in the respective risers, thereby completing a, compact and rigid shelf unit assembly, It is, of course, essential that the shelf members I have a thickness or depth at their notches ll sufficient to provide a substantial bearing surface engaging against side margins of the risers l2 received within said notches, in order that the shelf members will be held securely in position on the risers and thereby prevented from tilting about the screws l4 and away from a position perpendicular to the intersecting planes of the risers. 7

When two or more shelf members I0 are associated with and secured to two risers I2 in the manner shown and described, the resulting assembly is a corner bracket of the type illustrated in Figure 7, which is adapted for mounting in a, corner formed by the perpendicular intersection; n

of two walls, wherein the unit may be, secured by means of nails or screws engaging through exposed holes l3 of the risers and with the walls. With this type of unit assembly, adjustment of the spacing between the shelves may be had by varying the number of intermediate shelf members, by varying the relative location of the intermediatev shelf members, or by. varying thefrelation between the extreme shelf members andthe Y corresponding endsof the risers |2. In this type other of the risers employed in forming the simple unit assembly, and in supplyingan additionalriser in operative relation with the additional shelves, in the manner indicated inFigures 1, 2', 3, 4, 5 and 6. Where morethan two risers are employed in a unit assembly, they may be arranged with their corresponding ends in either the same or different planes, accordingto the purpose for which the unit is-to be employed or the effect to be produced.- When the ends of the risers lie in common planes, the compound unit may function as a table, since the lower {ends of the risers, being in the same plane, may engage the floor as a firm support forthe assembly, but when the 7 unit is to be used as a wall bracket, it may be r desirable to stagger the ends of the risers, somewhat in the manner shown inFigure 4, for decorative purposes. As is clearly indicated in the drawing, the shelf arrangement possible in the compound unit is almost infinitely variable, since the number and'spacing of the'sh'elf members 'may be adjusted to meet varying specific needs and decorative schemes. While the shelf unit assemblies are illustrated throughout as comprising three shelf members in association with each pair of risers, it is to be understood that only two shelf members are essential to complete a unit with each pair of risers and that additional shelf members may be employed in such number as-may be desired and usable within the limitations imposed by the length of the risers and the number of holes it provided therein.

The improved construction has particular advantage in that the elements of the assembly may be fabricated and shaped for shipment and storage in unassembled relation, no special tools or particular skill being necessary to complete the assembly of such elements. Further, the elements-may be left, inrnatural surface finish condition for subsequent painting, staining, or enameling by the ultimate user to conform with the desired decorative plans.

Since many changes,.variations, and modifications in the specificform, construction, and arrangement of the elements shown and described 30 may be had without departing from the spirit of my invention, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claim,

rather than b any details of the illustrative iopening notch, "21 pair of risers formed with spaced holes along their longitudinal, median xlines fitted closely Within and substantially filling associated shelf member, additional, identical shelf members 'removably engaging with one of said risers: by other means in other of said holes and thereby disposed inlaterally-offset, parallel relation with said first shelf members, and a third riser engaged within the notches of the 1 otherwise free margins of said additional shelf members and removably connected therewith. 'MINNETTA Kansans 

